Film Strategy

The good people at  Script Reader Pro  have just made your life easier.  Why is that you say?  Because they've made your filmmaking life easier to manage this year with their  calendar of  all the major upcoming screenwriting contests  (orange) , awards   (blue) , festivals  (green) , fellowships and labs  (yellow)  in 2017. Like Yogi Berra says, “If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.”  Saturday, April 1   HBOAccess Writing Fellowship Deadline Wednesday, April 5   Kansas City FilmFest Thursday, April 6   Kansas City FilmFest Friday, April 7   Kansas City FilmFest Saturday, April 8   Kansas City FilmFest Sunday, April 9   Kansas City FilmFest Monday, April 10   The Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Regular Deadline Monday, April 17   PAGE International Screenwriting Awards   Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition Late Deadline

The gift of overwhelming information to read on the internet burdens us to actually read it. One article that I came across that I found personally engaging was Peter Darling's Best Way to Run a Business. I think it is aimed at solo attorneys and budding entrepreneurs and small businesspeople. I think it is also useful for filmmakers. (To read the entire short article, click here .)  The part that stood out for me and which I find relevant for filmmakers is this one:  There are people all around you excelling at what you’re trying to learn. Start paying close attention to how they do it... Every day I am surprised when I ask clients and filmmakers if they know how "X director" or "Y producer" made "Z film" and the answer is "no." I am surprised because anyone who has been in the trenches long enough will tell you how hard it is to make a film. The difficulty comes in 7 stages, each getting progressively harder: It's hard to c

The good people at  Script Reader Pro  have just made your life easier.  Why is that you say?  Because they've made your filmmaking life easier to manage this year with their  calendar of  all the major upcoming screenwriting contests  (orange) , awards   (blue) , festivals  (green) , fellowships and labs  (yellow)  in 2017. Like Yogi Berra says, “If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.”  Wednesday, February 1   International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) Thursday, February 2   International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) Friday, February 3   International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) Saturday, February 4   International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) Sunday, February 5   International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) Thursday, February 9   Berlinale Film Festival Friday, February 10   Berlinale Film Festival Saturday, February 11   Berlinale F

Giovanna Aguilar is a multimedia content producer and a good friend. She recently wrote an article on LinkedIn with tips for people, like filmmakers, who are seeking and applying for grants. Her article is very informative, helpful and encouraging so I wanted to share it with you. Show that you like it by sharing it and liking her original LinkedIn post , as well. ******* So, you are considering grants to fund your dream project or program. Perhaps you are a nonprofit, filmmaker or public school program in need of financial support.  How do you begin the grant writing process?  How do you bring to fruition your thoroughly researched idea? January is not only for setting new year’s resolutions but also for planning your grant submission calendar.  It is important for you to know that this is when most grantors restart their funding cycles.This represents an opportunity for you, but it must   begin with a mix of preparation, patience and perseverance.   Trust me, these three P